Hundreds of people were evacuated from a public swimming pool in east London in a "major incident" following a chlorine leak.

       Twenty-nine people were taken to hospital after a "high quantity of chlorine gas" was released inside the London Aquatics Centre in Stratford on Wednesday morning, leaving many with breathing difficulties, running eyes and headaches.

       The "noxious fumes" leak happened when the facilities management company took a delivery of pool chemicals, according to the centre's operators.

       Some 200 people were evacuated from the Aquatics Centre at around 10am and another 48 were assessed at the scene, which was attended by 13 ambulances.

       Following the evacuation, the London Fire Brigade asked residents in the area to close windows and doors while it started to ventilate the centre to disperse the chlorine into the atmosphere.

       A Fire Brigade worker who was preparing to pump the chlorines fumes out of the centre said it was likely that the gas had spread quickly because the building's air vents had been kept open to reduce the risk of Covid transmission.

       A swimmer who was in the pool at the time, who declined to give his name, described a "really strong smell of chlorine" as he was being evacuated from the building.

       "We were in the pool when the alarm sounded," he said. "I knew it wasn't a drill because the staff were shouting to get out. A sign was also put up for people who couldn't hear what was being said.

       "We quickly got out and went through the changing rooms to run and grab our stuff – and thankfully we could, because I don't know how others are going to get their clothes.

       "I feel ok now, but the longer you were in there it got harder to breathe. A paramedic came over to us and asked how we were doing but we were fine, maybe a small headache."

       Hundreds of people were also evacuated from neighbouring buildings, including workers at a construction company that carries out works in Queen Elizabeth Park.

       One guard, who asked to remain anonymous, said: "The wind blew the chlorine across to where we work. At first it just smelt quite faint, but then it hit you, a smell like bleach. It got stronger and stronger. We realised the fire alarm was not a drill.

       "A lot of people started coughing, they had red eyes and they were struggling to breathe."

       It is understood that a 50-year-old security supervisor was later taken to London Royal Hospital and given oxygen. His condition is not believed to be serious.

       Darren Farmer, of the London Ambulance Service, said: "This morning we responded to a major incident at the London Aquatic Centre in Stratford, alongside colleagues from the London Fire Brigade and Metropolitan Police.

       "We sent a significant number of resources including 13 ambulance crews, advanced paramedics, two medics in fast response cars, two incident response officers, a medical incident adviser and members of our hazardous area response team. We also dispatched medics from London's Air Ambulance."

       The London Ambulance Service said it stood down its response shortly after 3pm.

       Sadiq Khan, the London Mayor, urged people to "avoid the area, which has been cordoned off and evacuated".

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